State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has announced today that the 2014-15 State Budget will provide an additional $40 million to help municipalities repair potholes and road surface damage caused by the harsh winter weather.

“While spring has finally arrived, the aftermath of a brutal winter still remains. There are still a significant number of potholes and surface damage all over the roadways. At the same time, the harsh winter has depleted municipalities’ budgets to repair roads,” said Ranzenhofer. “These investments will benefit towns and villages throughout Genesee County so that new infrastructure repair projects can be undertaken.”

The 2014-15 State Budget includes $40 million in Extreme Winter Weather Assistance Capital and $438 million for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS). The new budget maintains a record level of funding for the CHIPS program for a second consecutive year. The 2012-13 State Budget first increased CHIPS funding by $75 million.

Breakdown: CHIPS/Extreme Winter Weather Assistance by Municipality

Municipality

2013-14 State Budget ($)

2014-15 State Budget ($)

Year-over-year Change ($)

Percent Change

Genesee County

1,674,922

1,823,766

148,844

8.89

City of Batavia

308,736

337,343

28,607

9.27

Town of Alabama

85,971

95,945

9,974

11.60

Town of Alexander

89,208

99,405

10,197

11.43

Town of Batavia

103,681

115,241

11,560

11.15

Town of Bergen

49,382

55,025

5,643

11.43

Town of Bethany

78,161

86,815

8,655

11.07

Town of Byron

96,201

107,622

11,421

11.87

Town of Darien

105,413

117,649

12,236

11.61

Town of Elba

76,621

85,738

9,117

11.90

Town of LeRoy

100,215

111,698

11,483

11.46

Town of Oakfield

50,614

56,278

5,664

11.19

Town of Pavilion

103,501

115,242

11,741

11.34

Town of Pembroke

95,732

106,478

10,746

11.22

Town of Stafford

95,234

106,160

10,926

11.47

Village of Alexander

8,879

9,861

982

11.05

Village of Bergen

19,679

21,685

2,006

10.20

Village of Corfu

13,354

14,920

1,566

11.72

Village of Elba

8,932

9,842

910

10.19

Village of Le Roy

74,672

83,020

8,348

11.18

Village of Oakfield

28,029

31,203

3,174

11.32

In addition to these initiatives, the State Budget provides ways to keep roads and drivers safe. More funding has been allocated towards curtailing dangerous texting-while-driving. Young and new drivers convicted of texting-while-driving will have their licenses suspended for 120 days for a first-time offense and one year for a second-time offense.

The New York State Legislature started the CHIPS program in 1981. The CHIPS program provides funding for the repair of highways, bridges and roads operated by local governments.